The highly publicized Joshlin Smith trial has taken another turn, as Kelly Smith’s lawyer stated in court that his client will deny allegations that she sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000.
The Western Cape High Court, currently sitting in Saldanha Bay, heard on Wednesday that Smith will dispute the testimony given by the State’s star witness, Lourentia Lombaard, as well as all kidnapping and human trafficking charges brought against her.
Smith Denies Key Testimony
During court proceedings, Smith’s defense attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, argued that Lombaard’s testimony was not only false but also a strategic move to protect herself and her boyfriend, Ayanda Letoni.
Lombaard, the State’s key witness, had previously testified that she had personally witnessed Smith selling Joshlin to a sangoma before allegedly being offered money to stay silent.
However, Sivnarain firmly refuted these claims, stating that Smith’s defense is based on a different version of events—one that implicates Lombaard and Letoni in the child’s disappearance.
Who Was the Last Person to See Joshlin?
One of the most crucial aspects of the case is determining who last saw Joshlin before she went missing.
Sivnarain pointed out that it was Lombaard, not Smith, who was the last known person to be with Joshlin on the day of the child’s disappearance.
According to Smith’s account, when she realized her daughter was missing, she immediately went to Lombaard’s shack to look for her. However, when she arrived, both Joshlin and Lombaard were nowhere to be found, and Letoni could not provide an explanation about their whereabouts.
This raises serious questions, according to the defense, about whether Lombaard and Letoni were in some way involved in Joshlin’s disappearance.
Conflicting Testimonies
Lombaard’s version of events tells a different story.
In her testimony, she claimed that on the day of the disappearance:
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She had taken Joshlin to make her a sandwich.
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Afterward, she returned her to Jacquen Appollis at Smith’s shack.
However, Sivnarain challenged this, suggesting that Lombaard’s account of that day may not be truthful and could be part of a cover-up.
Letoni’s Suspicious Disappearance
Another critical element in the trial is the sudden disappearance of Ayanda Letoni.
Sivnarain told the court that Letoni fled to the Eastern Cape just days after Joshlin vanished.
The defense argues that this is highly suspicious, as it suggests that Letoni may have had something to hide.
According to Smith, she believes that Letoni was directly involved in the child’s disappearance, which is why he left town so abruptly.
Trial Continues Amidst Unanswered Questions
The trial has captivated the nation, as the tragic case of Joshlin Smith remains one of South Africa’s most heartbreaking child disappearance cases.
With both the prosecution and the defense presenting conflicting narratives, it remains unclear who is telling the truth and what really happened to Joshlin.
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Did Smith truly sell her daughter, as the State claims?
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Or is someone else responsible, as the defense suggests?
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Why did Letoni flee the area so soon after Joshlin disappeared?
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And most importantly—where is Joshlin?
The trial is expected to continue, with further witness testimony and cross-examinations set to provide more insight into the tragic disappearance of the young girl.